B 14 Template for Search Informing Candidate they did not make the Short List

Dear ____,

Thank you for your interest in the position for which Duke University has conducted a search this year in the Department of ____. We were fortunate enough to receive XYZ applications and expressions of interest and have arrived at a short list of candidates to invite to campus for interviews.  

In order to inform you of developments as soon as possible, thereby assisting you in your professional planning and decision making, I regret to inform you that – despite your excellent credentials and scholarly record – we have decided not to invite you to campus for further consideration. Our applicant pool, including your candidacy, was extremely strong; as you can imagine, our process for reaching a short list was not an easy one.

Our search committee enjoyed its conversations with you at our annual convention in _____ and thanks you for your interest in our program at Duke. We wish you the best of luck in your continuing professional career.

 	 	 	 	 	Sincerely, 



 	 	 	 	 	Department Chair or Search Committee Chair  

Telephone script for a spontaneous inquiry for informing candidates that they did or did not make the short list (or the shorter list):

Yes, I am able to inform you of the search's status. Just yesterday our faculty received the search committee's recommendation for a short list of candidates to invite to campus for interviews (after reviewing the credentials of an extraordinary pool of more than XYZ applicants). As department Chair I am, this morning, contacting the short-listed candidates to schedule interviews and preparing email notices to all those whom we are unable to invite.

-OR-

I regret to tell you that your name does not figure on the short list. Your credentials are impressive, and my colleagues and I found your accomplishments and planned research to be imaginative, important, and promising. However, we have decided to invite others to campus for interviews.
We thank you very much for your interest in our department. You will receive a confirming email from me so that the circle will be closed in writing. I wish you the best of luck as you develop your career and look forward to interacting with you professionally on the national scene.